Velocipede steering-head



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PylLDUrn.-

, VELOGIPBDB STEERING HEAD.

No. 564,741. Patented July 28,v 18196..'

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK K. DUNN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

vELoolPEDE sTEERlNe-HEAD.-

SPECIFICATION forming part 0f Letters Patent N. 564,741, dated July 28, 1896.

Application filed September 19 1895. Serial No. 562,955. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, FRANK K. DUNN, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Velocipede Steering-Heads and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof,ref erence being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in steering-heads for velocipedes, and pertains more specifically to an improved construction by means of which the handle-bar spindle is adjustably connected with the steering-fork of the frame.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, practical construction whereby the han dle-bar spindle may be adj usted vertically within the steering-fork with the greatest facility and without losing the alinement of said handle-bars with relation to the steeringfork.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and the same will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the upper portion of the steering-head of a bicycle equipped with my invention. Fig. 2 is an axial section taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. i is a perspective view of the adjustable sleeve, the position of the handlebar spindle therein being indicated in dotted lines. Fig. 5 is a view similar to that of Fig. 3, showin g a modification. Fig. 6 is an axial section similar to that of Fig. 2, showing still another modication.

As shown in said drawings, A designates the front standard of a bicycle-frame of the usual tubular form adapted to receive the steering-fork spindle B therein and provided at its upper end with an annular ball-race a. The upper end of the fork-spindle extends above or protrudes through the front standard A some distance and is screw-threaded, as at h, to receive an annular bearing-ring C,

the .under surface of which is provided 'with a ball-race c and a depending iian ge c', which overlaps the outer margin of the upper end of the part A and forms an inclosed race, within which are arranged the bearing-balls c2. The

upper end of said fork-spindle B is split axially for some distance downward, as at h b', and a ring-clamp D is arranged upon said upper end above the screw-threaded portion b thereof by means of which the said divided portion of the fork-spindle may be compressed to clamp a contained part hereinafter described, the portion b2 of the fork-spindle above the screw-threaded portion being reduced slightly to permit the assembling of the bearing-ring C thereon.

E designates a sleeve adapted to iit closely within the upper end of the fork-spindle B and adjustably held therein by means of the ring-clamp D, which acts to compress the divided portion of the fork-spindle vupon the cylindric exterior of said sleeve Upon the interior of the sleeve E is provided a longitudinal feather e, which, so far as its principal functions are concerned, may be of any desired form in cross-section, but as herein shown is of V form and is conveniently formed by impressing or grooving the exterior wall of the tubular sleeve longitudinally, as at e", to form the desired feather or key upon the interior of the sleeve. The upper end ofthe sleeve E is provided with a collar E', rigidly mounted thereon. Wvithin the inner side of said collar' E and extending through the side wall of the sleeve is formed a clamping-block socket c2, having parallel side walls c3 e2, and within which is arranged a clamping-block E2. The block E2 is of slightly less thickness radially than the radial depth of the socket e2, so as to be capable of movement within said socket, and is acted upon by the end of a thumbscrew E3, threaded throughthe side of said collar E', as clearly shown in the drawings, Fig. 3.

The inner face c4 of said clamping-block E2' is curved, being formed on the same radius with that of the interior of the sleeve E.

F designates the handle-bar spindle connected rigidly with the handle-bars F F by means of a clip F2, in the usual manner, said handle-bar spindle being of such exterior di- ICO ameter as to fit closely within the sleeve E andis adapted to be clamped within the latter by means of the thumb-screw E3 and clamping-block E2. The exterior of the spindle E is provided witha groove or crease f, extending longitudinally thereof and corresponding in shape to,and adapted to receive,the feather e of the sleeve E. Preferably, and as shown in the present instance, said feather and corresponding groove will be located at the front side of the spindle or that side opposite the set-screw E3. The length of the handle-bar spindle F is considerably greater than that of the sleeve B, so that said spindle may be raised to a considerable extent without bringing its lower end above the lower end of the sleeve, and in order toV prevent the spindle from being withdrawn from the sleeve a stop f' is provided on said lower end, herein shown as consisting of a filling-block secured in the lower end of the groove or keyway f, which is adapted to en gage with the lower end of the said feather or key e.

When constructed as above described, it will be obvious that upon loosening the thumb-screw E3 the handle-bars may be lifted or depressed to any desired extent within the range of adj ustability provided for, and that by reason of the engagement of the feather with the keyway the handles will be retained in perfect alinement during such adjustment. By reason of the fact that the handle-bars are thus held from rotation with relation to the fork-spindle, this adjustment may be accomplished with the greatest facility and with perfect safety by the rider without dismounting or stopping the machine, inasmuch as the velocipede may be steered perfectly so long as the handle-bars are non-rotatively engaged with the fork-spindle, whether they be secured against longitudinal movement with relation thereto or not. This is a feature of considerable importance, inasmuch as it is very desirable to drop the handle-bars when the rider Wishes to ride at a rapid speed, and vice versa, it is more comfortable to raise the handle-bars so as to permit the rider to sit more nearly erect when riding slowly, and, as before stated, these changes may be readily accomplished without stopping the machine or other inconvenience.

By the use of the sleeve having a cylindrical yexterior which is embraced by, and clamped within, the divided upper end of the fork-spindle, provision is made for yielding rotative movement of the handle-bar spindle with relation to the steering-fork in case of excessive torsional strain brought upon said parts, so that when the lower ring-clamp is properly adjusted said handle-bar spindle will rotate within the steering-fork before the handle-bars will be bent or the spindle injured by coming in accidental contact with any obstruction, as in case the rider should ride too near some obj ect and the handle-bar strike the latter, or the machine should fall upon its side and strike one of the handles,

or otherwise. The ring-clamp also,obvious1y, provides for changing the alinement of the handle-bars when this is found necessary.

XVhile I consider the foregoing construction, in which the keyway of the spindle and the key or feather of the sleeve are both formed by suitably creasing or grooving the side walls of the respective parts, preferable, yet in Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown two practical modications. In Fig. 5 the keywayf has the form of a rectangular groove formed in the exterior of the handle-bar spindle, while the key or spline e5 is in the form of a solid rib secured to the interior of the adjusting-sleeve, said spline and keyway being 1ocated upon the rear side of the steering-head, and the clamping-block, which is constructed and arranged substantially like that of the prior construction, being arranged to act upon the exterior of the handle-bar spindle at each side of the key, as at e6 e6. That portion of the key e5 between the clamping-block and the handle-bar spindle will be reduced in thickness sufficiently to permit the clampingblock to act upon the spindle without impinging upon said key.

In Fig. 6 the form of key and keyway is substantially like that of Fig. 5, but they are located at the front side of the steeringhead, while the clamping-ring E4 is provided with an eccentric E5, pivoted in its side so as to act upon the clamping-block e7 thereof, in lieu of the set-screws of the former constructions. The eccentric E5 is provided with a suitable lever es, by means of which it may be operated in an obvious manner.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination in a velocipede or bicycle steering-head, with a steering-fork` spindle and a handle-bar spindle, of means whereby a sliding or endwise adjustment of the latter is permitted While at the same time it is held normally in non-rotative relation to the former, comprising a key member i11- terposed between the steering-head spindle and the handle-bar spindle and a locking device for securing one of said spindles and said key member together yieldingly, substantially as described.

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2. The combination, in a velocipede steerv ing-head, of a steering-fork having a cylindric spindle, a sleeve having telescopic connection therewith, means for securing said sleeve and steering-fork together yieldingly, a handle-bar spindle having telescopic but non-rotatable connection with said sleeve, and means for adj ustably securing said handle-barspindle from endwise movement with relation to the sleeve, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, in a velocipede steering-head, of a steering-fork having a cylindric tubular spindle split at its upper end, a sleeve adapted to telescope within said tubular steering-fork, a ring-clamp arranged to compress the steering-fork spindle upon said sleeve, a handle-bar spindle adapted to telescope Within said sleeve and provided in its my inventonlafx my signature, in presence side with a longitudinal keyway, a key upon of two Witnesses, this 17th day of September, Io the interior of said tubular sleeve engaging A. D. 1895. said keyway, and means for adj ustably secur- 5 ing said handle-bar spindle from endwise FRANK. K DUNN' movement within the sleeve, substantially as Witnesses: set forth. ALBERT H. GRAVES,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as WILLIAM L. HALL. 

